Michael Johnson training for July return, hopes to fight at UFC 213

Michael Johnson training for July return, hopes to fight at UFC 213

Three months ago, UFC lightweight Michael Johnson sat for an in-studio interview with MMAjunkie Radio and haggled for a big fight.

Being in Las Vegas, the Florida resident had only gotten a few hours of sleep the night before. But he was willing to cut weight and give Tony Ferguson a rematch, reviving UFC 209’s co-headliner after Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) withdrew due to health issues.

Whatever goodwill the gesture might have brought, Johnson (17-11 MMA, 9-7 UFC) still hasn’t seen it. After Ferguson (22-3 MMA, 12-1 UFC) declined the fight, Johnson has yet to be offered another opponent.

“I offered the UFC a few people I’d like to fight, and they said they’d get back to me,” Johnson told MMAjunkie Radio on Tuesday. “I don’t know if these guys are waiting to see if they want to take the fight or not, but I have no idea. I have no idea what’s going on right now, to tell you the truth.”

Even after the UFC was acquired by entertainment giant WME-IMG, waiting was not an uncommon experience for fighters in a promotion that at one point had over 500 athletes under contract. Johnson would like to think he’s earned a little extra consideration as an octagon veteran with several notable wins under his belt. But it’s hard to say until he finds out how much his career vision aligns with the matchmaking department.

Johnson said he was offered to fight former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis (19-6 MMA, 6-5 UFC) or standout Evan Dunham (18-6 MMA, 11-6 UFC), both of whom are unbooked, as he did following the UFC 209 shakeup. In his interview Tuesday, he also said he’d be interested in a rematch with Edson Barboza, even though he already holds a win over the Brazilian, who at No. 6 is currently ranked above him in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings.

A date at UFC 213, which takes place July 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, would be ideal.

“That’s what I’m keeping my fingers crossed for and what I’m training for, and if not, then we’ll go from there,” Johnson said.

But after a controversial decision loss to Beneil Dariush and a 1-2 skid, Johnson stands at No. 13 in the current rankings. He’s in a tough spot when it comes to making demands. A wish to rematch Nate Diaz is a big ask considering the brash Stocktonite’s market demand. Pettis, who’s No. 9 at featherweight and unranked at lightweight, might be a little more reasonable.

“He’s just a former champ,” Johnson said of “Showtime.” “I always want to test myself. I look at myself as one of the best standup guys in the lightweight division. People look at him as one of the best guys in the lightweight division, so I want to cross off my list another guy that thinks they’re the best strikers in the world and take him out.”

Johnson has done that a few times in his career. But more importantly, he said, he’s stepped up when others haven’t. The old anytime, anywhere cliche applies to him – prospective opponents, maybe not so much.

“I think that’s the biggest piece of (expletive) fighters can say, because when it comes down to it, they always find excuses, like money, or I didn’t have enough time, or I don’t want to travel this place,” he said. “One thing I can say, I will fight anybody, anytime.”

When it comes down to it, Johnson isn’t the only one waiting. Even Ferguson is waiting to see what his future holds and has called out Diaz if a fight with champ Conor McGregor isn’t on the table.

But even if Ferguson changed his mind and decided a rematch was the right move, Johnson said he’d rather return a favor.

“I know he’s ahead of me, but I’ve offered it twice, and he’s said no both times,” he said. “So now I’m going to sit back and let that loss stick to him a little longer.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.